You can leave the alarm clock at home if you’re heading for a stay at Brondel Luxury Shepherd's Hut. That’s not just because the king-sized bed in the lone hut is so comfy that you won’t want to get out of it. And it’s not because super-friendly host Elen would find you one if you asked. It’s because the birdsong at dawn can be, as Elen’s husband Rhys describes it: “a bit full on”. If that sounds like bliss, book a stay. If not, get some ear plugs and go anyway.
The birdsong and visiting bats, red kites and hares make it ideal for nature lovers but it’s got wider appeal too. Tucked away on a smallholding in mid-Wales, it’s the perfect place for a romantic retreat or a quiet family holiday. Readers, writers and romantics will be content to gaze at the valley views or sit by the on-site pond. Walkers can stroll a mile-and-a-half in either direction to find a pub and children can explore the 23-acre site to meet chickens, ducks and sheep. But it’s not all sleepy pursuits. This is Wales after all – the adventure capital of the UK with the Cambrian mountains to climb, bike trails to conquer and that stunning coastal path within reach at Aberystwyth.
No matter how you choose to spend your days, nights at Brondel Shepherd's Hut will be comfortable and cosy. It’s been kitted out with everything you need and nothing you don’t. There’s a toilet, a shower, a kettle, a fridge – even a hairdryer. But there’s no television WiFi. You’ll have to make do with the view; fortunately, it’s a good one and the sky at night makes for particularly excellent viewing. Funnily enough, Rhys works in television and travels all over to make programmes, including Wales’ answer to Countryfile. But there’s one rural location he likes above all others. For Rhys, there’s no place like home. Luckily for us, he and Elen are happy to share it with the rest of us.